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| May 9, 2006 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf for all encompassing approach to socio-economic development of FATA RAWALPINDI, May 9 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday pledged to bring about socio-economic development in the tribal areas through introduction of political and administrative reforms, aimed at opening up economic opportunities, and curbing extremism in the region. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also attended the meeting, which deliberated on a host of measures to address extremism and terrorism through fast-track economic development of the people. "The majority of people in the tribal areas are moderate and pro-development - but they have been held hostage by a handful of extremists; we need to encourage the progressive people to come forward through employment generation, better education and health facilities - that is the way forward for sustainable progress," said Musharraf.(Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Car bomb kills 17 Iraqis in Tall Afar MOSUL, Iraq, May 9, 2006 (AFP) - A car bomb killed 17 people and wounded 35 others on Tuesday at a market in the Iraqi town of Tall Afar close to the Syrian border, police said.(Posted @ 23:55 PST)
Iranian president arrives in Indonesia to discuss nuclear issue JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) _ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Indonesia early Wednesday to discuss the international dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions in the world's most populous Muslim nation.(Posted @ 23:42 PST)
China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia elected to new UN human rights council UNITED NATIONS, May 9, 2006 (AFP) - Cuba, China and Saudi Arabia were elected Tuesday to the new UN Human Rights Council, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson said.(Posted @ 23:14 PST)
Security forces attacked in Dera Bugti QUETTA May 9 (PPI): Armed tribesmen clash with security forces in District Dera Bugti with missiles and rockets. According to reports, security forces clashed with armed tribesmen in Sangseela, Chashma and Gori Nullah in Dera Bugti. Armed men also fired three missiles on security forces from Neelagh hills around Sui and seven rockets on a check post in Patter nullah. There was no loss of any sort.(Posted @ 23:02 PST)
Bush says diplomacy first option on Iran SUN CITY CENTER, May 9 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Tuesday that his administration viewed diplomacy as the first and most important option in dealing with standoff over Iran's nuclear program. Bush spoke a day after Iran's president sent the U.S. president an unprecedented 18-page letter, which Bush administration officials dismissed as a move by Tehran to divert attention from the nuclear issue.(Posted @ 22:54 PST)
Abbas appeals for end to foreign aid freeze RAMALLAH, West Bank, May 9 (Reuters) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Middle East peace brokers on Tuesday to end a foreign aid freeze on the Hamas-led government, warning of deeper instability ahead in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Nine people were wounded in a second day of gun battles in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Fatah. In a letter to the "Quartet" of peace brokers that planned to meet later in the day in New York, Abbas appealed for funds to pay salaries, overdue since March, to 165,000 workers employed by the Palestinian Authority. "Besides the potential humanitarian crisis resulting from the general deterioration of the economic situation, inability to pay salaries might have deep destabilising political and security implications," Abbas wrote.(Posted @ 20:14 PST)
US envoy urges Kuwait to treat expat labour fairly KUWAIT CITY, May 9, 2006 (AFP) The US ambassador to Kuwait urged the oil-rich emirate on Tuesday to respect the basic rights of two million foreign labourers living here and to treat them with fairness. "Let me be clear: I am not talking about special rights, I am referring to basic rights: to be paid an agreed wage on time, to control one's passport, to have some means of effective recourse in disputes and to have shelter available when needed," Richard LeBaron told a symposium. Last year, thousands of Asian workers, including those from India and Pakistan, staged demonstrations against non-payment of salary on time. There have also been reports of large cases of abuse against those working in households.(Posted @ 20:05 PST)
One dead, Indian politician wounded in rebel ambush GUWAHATI, India, May 9, 2006 (AFP) Indian separatists on motorbikes wounded a senior politician and shot a bodyguard dead in an ambush in the north-eastern state of Assam on Tuesday, police said. Five others including a policeman were also wounded when Pradeep Hazarika's convoy came under attack from United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) rebels, they said. Four party supporters were also wounded in the attack.(Posted @ 20:02 PST)
At least 10 killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, May 9, 2006 (AFP) Ten people were killed across Iraq Tuesday, while 12 mutilated bodies were found including three beheaded corpses of Iraqi army soldiers, security officials said. Among those killed were two civilians in a roadside bomb attack against a patrol of Facility Protection Service (FPS), a special security unit tasked with guarding ministry buildings and power stations. Four members of the patrol were also wounded in the Baghdad attack. A cleric, Raed Mohammed al-Dulaimi, was also killed in southern Baghdad. An Iraqi army soldier was killed and two others wounded when their patrol was attacked by gunmen near the northern city of Kirkuk, police said. Gunmen shot dead a judge in western Baghdad, while a baker was also killed in Baghdad's Al-Dura neighborhood. Two brothers were also killed by gunmen in southern Baghdad. Meanwhile, police found 12 bodies of men around Baghdad and central Iraq. Three of the corpses, found beheaded, were Iraqi army soldiers. (First Posted @ 15:20 PST Updated @ 19:56 PST)
Bosnia opens first genocide trial for Srebrenica massacre SARAJEVO, May 9, 2006 (AFP) Bosnia's first genocide trial opened here on Tuesday with 11 Serbs facing charges of killing more than 1,000 Muslims during the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. Ten wartime special police officers and one former soldier appeared before the Bosnian court established last year in a bid to ease the burden on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) based in The Hague by taking over some of its cases. The charges against the 11 specifically relate to the deaths of more than 1,000 Muslims at the warehouse of an agriculture cooperative near Srebrenica, in eastern Bosnia.(Posted @ 19:50 PST)
Canada's chief of diplomacy makes surprise visit to Afghanistan OTTAWA, May 9, 2006 (AFP) Canada's foreign minister, Peter MacKay, arrived in Afghanistan on Tuesday for a surprise two-day visit to meet with local officials and Canadian troops, according to his office. On Tuesday, MacKay told Canadian media in Kandahar that "the commitment is to finish the job. The commitment is not defined in terms of years, it's defined in terms of its success, and we feel that progress is being made and we're here to see that the work is going to be completed".(Posted @ 19:46 PST)
India says no to troop withdrawals from Occupied Kashmir JAMMU, Occupied Kashmir, May 9, 2006 (AFP) India's defence minister Tuesday rejected a call by Pakistan for troop cuts in Occupied Kashmir to push forward the peace process. "We will not reduce troop strength in Jammu and Kashmir," Pranab Mukherjee said in Jammu. "A reduction of troops depends on the security scenario," he said. Mukherjee made the comments after visiting the mountainous districts of Doda and Udhampur. Some 60,000 frontline troops are posted along Occupied Kashmir's Line of Control(LoC) with Azad Kashmir while hundreds of thousands of paramilitary troops and police personnel are also deployed. Mukherjee warned he would send in more troops if attacks continued in Occupied Kashmir. "I request Pakistan to adhere to its commitment that its land will not be used for cross-border terrorism because as per our information 59 training camps are still functioning in Pakistan," Mukherjee said.(Posted @ 18:02 PST)
Pakistan says tribal belt unrest won't stop polio campaign ISLAMABAD, May 9, 2006 (AFP) Pakistan said Tuesday it would have no difficulty distributing polio vaccines in its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, as it launched a campaign to immunise 16.5 million children. About 60,000 workers have begun administering polio vaccine drops to children under five, Pakistan health minister Nasir Khan said. "The World Health Organisation is helping our immunisation effort which covers about 16.5 million children," Khan told a press conference. "We are focussing on 49 districts and three of them are in the tribal areas," a WHO representative in Pakistan said. Meanwhile in Pakistan's Balochistan province rumours were rife that the polio vaccine drops contained drugs which make children infertile when they grow up, officials said. "There were rumours that polio vaccination drive was a ploy for birth control, but we brought the clerics on board and removed this misconception," Balochistan health minister Hafiz Hamadullah told the same press conference. The campaign will continue until no more polio cases are reported for three consecutive years. (First Posted @ 15:05 PST Updated @ 17:58 PST)
Pakistani investigators head for Berlin in custody death probe ISLAMABAD, May 9, 2006 (AFP) Pakistan sent two investigators to Germany Tuesday to probe the apparent suicide in custody of a Pakistani man held for allegedly trying to assault a newspaper editor over publishing blasphemous cartoons, officials said. Amir Cheema,28, was found dead last Wednesday at the Moabit prison in Berlin, where he had been held for six weeks awaiting a court appearance. The two senior officials from the police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) left here for Karachi, from where they will board a flight later in the day for Germany, FIA chief Tariq Parvez said. German authorities have pledged to cooperate with the Pakistani investigators, Parvez said. Amir's father has alleged his son was tortured to death.(Posted @ 17:54 PST)
Afghan women's ministry vehicle attacked, driver killed KABUL, May 9, 2006 (AFP) Gunmen on motorbikes opened fire Tuesday on a car taking women ministry employees home from a seminar in southern Afghanistan, killing the driver who was an accountant for the ministry, officials said. The two men fired on the car in Lashkar Gah city, capital of Helmand province. The two women passengers were shocked but unhurt, an official said. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Hazara jolted PESHAWAR, May 9,(APP): An earthquake of mild intensity measuring 4.0 on the International Richter scale was felt at Mansehra, Balakot and Batagram in Hazara Division late Monday night. According to the preliminary analysis of Met office Peshawar, the earthquake originated at 22:19 Hours PST and its epicentre was about 200 kilometres North East of Peshawar in Hazara Division. Reports about any casualty and material losses were not been received till the filing of this report. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Come to Afghanistan and make money, Karzai says KABUL, May 9 (Reuters) Afghan President Hamid Karzai opened an investment conference on Tuesday with a plea for businesses to come and make money while acknowledging there were still problems including red tape and corruption. "Afghanistan needs investment in every walk of life," Karzai told the opening of the conference, organised by the state-backed Afghanistan Investment Support Agency. Karzai mentioned investment in construction sectors as well as agri-business, communications, mines and industry as prime areas for investment. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Iran says Russia plan may be way out of atomic row ATHENS, May 9 (Reuters) Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said on Tuesday a proposal to allow Tehran to enrich uranium on Russian soil remained a possible way out of the row over its nuclear programme, but needed more time. Ali Larijani was speaking to reporters in Athens. "They (the international community) were too hasty, they didn't allow an agreement," he said, referring to a decision to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear plans. Speaking through a Greek interpreter after a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni, Larijani said there was still time to resort to the Russian plan. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Egyptian police say kill Sinai militant leader CAIRO, May 9 (Reuters) Egyptian police on Tuesday killed the leader of a group behind attacks which killed 19 people in the Sinai peninsula last month, security sources said. Nasr Khamis el-Milahi had opened fire on police in the town of El Arish in northern Sinai, they said. Police returned fire and killed him. Police arrested his aide, Mohammed Abdullah Alyan, who was wounded in the gun battle. The authorities had named Milahi as the leader of a group called Tawhid wal Jihad which they blame for a series of attacks in Sinai since October 2004. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Saudi sees oil prices holding firm this decade RIYADH, May 9 (Reuters) Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it expected oil prices, just off record highs, to hold firm "this decade" and reiterated it was willing to pump more crude to markets if needed. Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi also said OPEC will be able to meet expected growth in global crude demand but that the world will face a refining capacity crunch for the next four years. Oil held near $70 on Tuesday with U.S. light crude down 7 cents at $69.70 a barrel and London Brent up 12 cents at $70.33. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Battle rages in Mogadishu, at least 35 dead MOGADISHU, May 9 (Reuters) The latest flare-up in fighting between militia and a self-styled "anti-terrorism" alliance of warlords in Somalia's capital Mogadishu has killed at least 35 people, sources on both sides said on Tuesday. Fighting, which many believe is being fuelled by U.S. support for the warlords, continued for a third day on Tuesday in the run-down Siisii area of the lawless coastal city. A militia leader confirmed fighting had started again on Tuesday morning. "We have lost at least four today on our side, and three yesterday," he said by phone. (Posted @ 15:17 PST)
Quake victims protest U.S. decision to label two charities as terror groups MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) About 1,500 people rallied through Azad Kashmir on Tuesday to protest a U.S. decision to designate two charities as terrorist groups. The U.S. Department of State announced the move against Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq last month for being ``aliases'' of Lashkhar-e-Tayyaba, an outlawed militant group. On Tuesday, survivors of the October earthquake and supporters of the two groups protested in Muzaffarabad. (Posted @ 15:00 PST)
China urges Iran to cooperate with IAEA BEIJING, May 9 (Reuters) China's foreign minister urged Iran to cooperate with the global nuclear watchdog and also said the deepening dispute over Iran's atomic activities should be defused by negotiations, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday. Li Zhaoxing made the comments in New York on Monday after a meeting of all five foreign ministers of U.N. Security Council permanent members and of Germany, Xinhua said. (Posted @ 12:35 PST)
Iraqi PM says hopes to form government within day or two BAGHDAD, May 9 (Reuters) Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki said on Tuesday he expected to form a government within the next couple of days. "Maybe today or tomorrow, we will complete the formation of the government," he told a news conference. (Posted @ 12:35 PST)
At least 12 children killed in Nepal road crash KATHMANDU, May 9 (Reuters) At least 12 children were killed in Nepal on Tuesday when a bus carrying 23 students to school plunged into an irrigation canal, police said. The cause of the accident was not known. (Posted @ 12:20 PST)
Rice dismisses letter from Iran’s president to Bush NEW YORK (AP) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dismissed a letter that Iran's president sent to President George W. Bush on Monday, saying the first direct communication from an Iranian leader in 27 years does not help resolve the standoff over Tehran's disputed nuclear program. ``This letter is not the place that one would find an opening to engage on the nuclear issue or anything of the sort,'' the top U.S. diplomat said in an interview with The Associated Press. Rice said the letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was 17 or 18 pages long and covered history, philosophy and religion. She would not discuss the contents in detail but made clear that the United States would not change its tack on Iran. ``There's nothing in here that would suggest that we're on any different course than we were before we got the letter,'' Rice said. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Bush had been briefed on the letter, which the White House received Monday through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran. He would not comment on whether it was actually signed by the Iranian president. (Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Ahmedinejad’s letter faults US, makes no nuclear proposals UNITED NATIONS, May 9 (Reuters) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written U.S. President George W. Bush an 18-page treatise detailing American foreign policy misdeeds and defending scientific research as "one of the basic rights of nations." The document, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters on Tuesday, argues generally that globally shared religious values must govern political life but makes no proposals for resolving the West's differences with Tehran over its nuclear ambitions. Tehran's letter appears to draw analogies between the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and U.S. threats against Iran. "On the pretext of the existence of WMDs (weapons of mass destruction), this great tragedy came to engulf both the peoples of the occupied and the occupying country. Later it was revealed that no WMDs existed to begin with," the Iranian leader wrote in the letter, translated from Farsi. "Lies were told in the Iraqi matter. What was the result? I have no doubt that telling lies is reprehensible in any culture, and you do not like to be lied to," Ahmadinejad said. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
Nine hurt in new Palestinian gunbattle GAZA, May 9 (Reuters) Nine people were wounded in a gunbattle between Fatah and Hamas fighters in Gaza on Tuesday, a day after three gunmen were killed in clashes, witnesses said. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, backed by Fatah, and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, head of a Hamas-dominated government, failed to resolve security issues in weekend talks. The witnesses said Tuesday's clash occurred when hundreds of gunmen roamed the streets of Gaza City's Tuffah neighbourhood. Four of the nine people wounded were Palestinian teenagers on their way to school, said medical staff. Three gunmen were also among the wounded. (First Posted @ 09:45 PST Updated @ 10:28 PST)
Major powers fail to agree on joint Iran strategy UNITED NATIONS, May 9 (Reuters) Foreign ministers of major powers failed to come up with a joint strategy for dealing with Iran after Tehran sought to influence the negotiations with a stunning last-minute diplomatic manoeuvre, officials said. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said a U.S.-hosted meeting on Monday of ministers from Russia, Britain, China and Germany did not reach agreement. "We are still considering our work," he told reporters after the late night meeting ended. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
S.Korea begins pullout of 1,000 troops from Iraq SEOUL, May 9 (Reuters) South Korea, which has the third-largest contingent of foreign troops in Iraq, began on Tuesday its pullout of 1,000 of its 3,200 soldiers remaining in the country, a military official said. South Korea had deployed 3,600 troops in Iraq in 2004 as a show of support for its closest military ally, the United States, despite opposition among the public and within President Roh Moo-hyun's progressive ruling Uri Party. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 198.69 points: KARACHI, May 9: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11576.83, down 198.69 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, May 9: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.15 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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